Lingnan University co-organises symposium cum debut of ‘Historical Narratives of Overseas Chinese Along the “Belt and Road” Book Series’

02 - 07 Mar 2019

Lingnan University co-organised a symposium cum the debut of ‘Historical Narratives of Overseas Chinese Along the “Belt and Road” Book Series’ on 2 March 2019 in collaboration with the Tsinghua University Center for Chinese Entrepreneur Studies and the China Institute of Overseas Chinese.

As a keynote national publishing project under the 13th Five-Year Plan and a project supported by the National Publication Fund, the ‘Historical Narratives of Overseas Chinese Along the “Belt and Road” Book Series’ is a major thematic publishing work steered by Guangdong Education Publishing House. Prof. Long Denggao, Director of the Tsinghua University Center for Chinese Entrepreneur Studies, Prof. Zhang Yinglong of Academy of Overseas Chinese Studies, Jinan University and Mr Zhang Xiuming, Deputy Director of the China Institute of Overseas Chinese are the Editors-in-Chief of the series. Backed by academic research findings, the series is penned in a refined but approachable style. Complemented by a collection of historical photos, the strikingly colorful stories of overseas Chinese are lively retold. By unfolding the historical connexion between overseas Chinese and the ‘Belt and Road’ initiative to the wider readership, the publication bears the important value of solidifying the social foundation of the ‘Belt and Road’ initiative.

In his welcoming speech, Prof. Leonard K Cheng, President of the Lingnan University reminded audiences of the deep bonding between the University and overseas Chinese. Bringing their edge into full play, overseas Chinese can be a bridge connecting our country to the world at large. Mr Yang Chunhua, Minister of Culture of the Guangdong All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, also pointed out that ‘Belt and Road’ is a road built with the engagement, contribution and enjoyment of all. Overseas Chinese is a powerful force of the realisation of the ‘Belt and Road’ initiative. It has become duty-bound for All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese to undertake the important mission of strengthening research studies on the overseas Chinese scene and of enhancing its research standards.

The event was co-organised with Guangdong Education Publishing House, The Belt and Road Institute of Nanyang Technological University and Guangdong Overseas Chinese History Academy, and was supported by China Friendship Foundation for Peace and Development and Guangdong All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese. The event was honored by the attendance of guests from Guangdong All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, Guangdong Education Publishing House, Lingnan University, Tsinghua University, Beijing University, Jinan University, Nanyang Technological University and the University of Hong Kong, and by the participation of various research institutes from around the country. Participating guests attached great importance to the series’ publication.